Former student credits Henry Meares when accepting distinguished alumni award

When Herbert Burnett was recently honored by the Champaign Urbana Schools Foundation with the 2022 Distinguished Alumni Award, he told The News Gazette he wouldn’t be where he is today without his high school principal. “He gave me a picture of what a successful African American male looked like and always dressed and acted professionally.” 

That principal was Dr. Henry Meares, Assistant Dean for dije, Recruitment, and Special Projects at the SOE. It was at Urbana High School, in an earlier chapter of Meares’ career, that Burnett encountered him—the right person, at the right time.

Burnett was the youngest in his family, and although his brothers and sisters had all gone straight to college, the summer before his senior year, he began to struggle. He had been on track to graduate early, but now it was questionable whether he would graduate at all. 

“When he saw me doing things I had no business doing, he didn’t scold me, he just reminded me who I was, and who I represented," recalls Burnett. "My mom was on the school board for many years, and my dad was a minister, so he didn’t take the aggressive approach. For lack of a better word, he was ‘user friendly.’ I really don’t think I would have graduated if it wasn’t for Henry Meares.”

After graduating in 1982, and attending Parkland College in eastern Illinois, Burnett went on to have a successful 20-year career with the U.S. Army. He is honored as a Distinguished Alumni for both his service to the country and to his community. In addition to serving as an associate pastor, substitute teacher, coach, and referee, he is the CEO and founder of Not on My Watch, a non-profit organization created to commit outreach, connection, and support for the challenges of young black males through hope and accountability. 

“The most powerful thing [Meares] did at Urbana High School was build relationships with the students. He wasn’t ‘I’m the principal and I’m up here’—he built relationships. And that’s one of my biggest strengths now—I build relationships with the youth that other people want to throw away,” says Burnett.

The fact that Meares was always well dressed stuck with Burnett, too. In addition to his work with young people, Burnett runs the clothing store Suits by Soouljah. 

“Look good, feel good,” says Burnett. “Perception is very important, and first impressions are very important. Henry Meares definitely left a great impression—and not just on me. He left a lasting impact on Urbana High School.”